Corrective device



' w 1,636,101 1927' R. R. McLALLE'N CORRECTIVE DEVICE Filed March 9, 1927 Lflliueizfor I 1Z0& 43y M'ZaZZeIL v 4 /011241 6M, 7% M" flax/4" Patented July 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES BOB BOY MOLALLEN, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS. Y

connnc'rrvn DEVICE.

Application filed March 9, 1927. Serial No. 173,931.

My invention relates to corrective devices, being more particularly concerned with a provision of a corrective device for infants for discouraging them from sucking their thumbs or fingers, and for avoiding boththe formation of this habit and the bad physi-- ological effects resulting therefrom.

While I am aware thatthere have been devices in the prior art whose object was the discouragement of this habit, the general result of such devices is either to hamper the natural freedom of the infants other motions or to cause the infant other physical discomfort, such as producing a bad taste in its mouth or preventing it from acting to remove flies or otherinsects which may annoy it.

One of the objects of my invention is the elimination of the foregoing difliculties and others by the provision of a restraint which does not hamper the ordinary freedom of movement of the infant but which tends to discourage the habit of thumb sucking'due to the increased physical effort required to lift the thumb to the mouth.

Another object of my invention is a provision of a device of the class described which is simple and easy to manufacture, which has no metal parts in contact with the body to injure the infant and which is adjustable both to regulate the discouraging effect and to adapt the device to infants of all sizes.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear more fully from the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational View illustrating the application of my corrective device; and

Figure 2 is a detailed view showing the structure of the same.

My corrective device which I have desig nated in its entirety by the numeral 10, comprises a band 11 of elastic fabric which is preferably made of strands of rubber covered with the fabric woven about said strands so as to cover the same, although permitting the extension of the rubber strands to a considerable degree. The elastic band 11 may be of any desired color corresponding to the infants attire if desired so that it attracts relatively little attention.

At one end of the elastic band there is formed a loop 12 by fastening the end 13 of the band about a wire link 14 and stitching through the end 13 and the adjacentportion of the band. The adjustable clip 15 comprises a substantially flat piece of metal plate having a downwardly extending toothed flange 16 and having the ends of sa d flange curled about the ends 17 of the wlre link 14. The wire link 14 comprises a short length of wire having each end bent upwardly as at 18 and short portions of the end bent parallel to the major portion of the link as at 17. 1 l e It will thus be observed that the flatportion of the adjustable clip 15 may beturned upward, separating it from the band '11 whereupon the toothed flange 16 Will move eccentrically relative to the wire link 14 releasing the band 11 and if the adjustable clip 15 is moved in an opposite direction to the position shown in Figure 2, the toothed flange 16 cooperates with the wire link 14 to clamp the clip upon the band 11 at any desired point. I

It will thus be observed that the loop 12 may be enlarged to any desired extent for the purpose of insertingthe hand of the i11- fant through said loop, after which the adjustable clip may be slid along theelastic' band 11 and fixed thereon at any point to make the size of the loop such that the infant cannot slide the loop off his hand and so that the loop does not unnecessarily bind upon the wrist or restrict circulation.

The other end of the elastic band is likewise provided with a loop 19 for the purpose of adjustably fixin the band to a fastening device 20 and tie loop 19 ma be so attached b passing the end 21 o the elastic througi the wire loop 22, through the wire link 14 and'folding the end 21 back upon itself and stitching said end to the band 11 adjacent the end. The adjustable clip 15 at this point may be of similar structure to the one at the opposite end of the band and by means of this adjustable clip I am not only enabled to regulate the amount of restraint but I am enabled to adapt my corrective device to infants of all sizes.

The attaching device 20 may consist of an ordinary safety pin but in order to prevent the loss of the safety pin from the loop 19 I prefer to provide the safety pin with a wire loop 22 having its ends '23 bent about the back wire of the safety pin and having a central portion 24 which forms a substantially rectangular slot to receive the loop 19.

In the application of my device to an infant it is essential that the lower end of the band 11 be fixed to the body of the infant, preferably its trunk, in such manner that this end is relatively fixed and for this purpose I prefer to fix the safety pin 20 upon the forward part of the diaper 25 as this is a garment which is held securely in place. The loop 12 is placed about either wrist of the infant, depending upon which thumb it has a tendency to suck, and the length of the band 11 is adjusted to such a length that when the infant attempts to lift its thumb to its mouth it cannot do so without stretching the elastic band 11.

It will thus be observed that the physical exertion required to raise the thumb to the mouth and hold it there may be made such that it will discourage the infant from sucking its thumb and the device maybe applied to either one orboth of the wrists of the infant, using two such devices if necessary. The amount'of such discouragement may be regulated by changing the length of the band 11 by means of adjusting the size of the loop 19 and it has been found that my invention will not only produce the desired corrective result, but this result is obtained without causing the infant any actual discomfort or hampering its ordinary movements in any 'way. The infant is able to creep or even to lift its hands to any position above its head if it so desires and the physical exercise entailed by motions which stretch the elastic band actually produces a beneficial effect upon the physique of the infant.

My corrective device may also he used for preventing infant from reaching eruptions or other skin affections about the head and other parts and for discouraging them from scratchingtheseparts. For such purpose it is sufficient that one end of the elastic may be attached to a garment of the infant which is remote from the part to be protected and that the length of the elastic may be such that the infant cannot reach to touch the parts to be protected Without exerting physical effort to stretch the elastic member.

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth but desire. to avail myself of all changes within the scope ofthe appended claim.

Having thus described my invention What I claimas new and desire to secure b lLetters Patent of. the United States is:

In a correctivedevice for infants, for discouraging thumb sucking and the like, an elastic member having aloop at one end for attachment to the wrist of'an infant, and means at the other end of said elastic member for attaching the same to a garment on the lower part of the body of said infant, the length of said elasticmember bein such that the infant can only raise its ham to its mouth by exerting physicalv effort to stretch said elastic member, or by moving its head from the normally comfortable position.

In'witness whereof, I hereunto Subscribe my name this 7th day of March, 1927.

ROB BOY MGLALLEN. 

